About six years before 1912, he travelled to Detroit, Michigan to work as a labourer - each Spring going out into the sugar beet fields. In late 1911, having accumulated enough money, he returned home to Belgium. The Vanderplancke family had resided at Hille 87 in Zwevezele.

Jules was recently married to Emilia Vandemoortele. The newlyweds were heading to the United States where Jules had a job as a foreman for the Continental Sugar Company, of Fremont, Ohio. Accompanying them were Jules' sister, 18-year-old Augusta Maria, also a lace worker, and 15-year-old brother, Leo.

The family boarded the Titanic in Southampton as third class passengers. Jules and Emilia held ticket number 345763, £18. A friend of the family, Victor Vandercruyssen, was also aboard.

They all lost their lives in the sinking. None of their bodies, if recovered, were identified.